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Show University Museum Studies Ancient Bones t -- ' . : " - - ' 1 ; - I i " ii'' -:& 5S SSI '- v y i By TIM TATE Chronicle Staff Writer The University of Utah Museum of Earth Sciences is currently cur-rently studying a collection of ancient bones. James H. Madsen Jr., in charge of the project, reports that he is preparing a rare collection of bones which were collected near Silver Creek Junction this summr. THE BONES were first discovered by construction workers in a relatively inactive spring at the Silver Creek Estates. The bones were taken from around a spring by spraying i water against the walls. As the sediments were washed away, the bones were removed. It took a period of six weeks to complete the project. ' THE BONES are believed to be about 10,000 years old. Carbon 14 tests are being made to determine their age more I accurately. The three animal bones which are unique in the collection ' are a horse, camel, and a ground sloth. Other animals which were found are rats, squirrels, shrews, mice, porcupines, a mink, a skunk, a bison, a bird and even a fossil elephant. "THE HORSE was the best find," Mr. Madsen stated. "These horse remains are very similar to those of the modern horse. If this horse were alive it would probably appear quite similar to a modern horse. This is the most complete collection that has been found in Utah." The camel and ground sloth bones are considered to be unique because they are very rarely found in this area, if not in the Mountain West. THE PLANNED RESEARCH will attempt to correlate similarities and differences with bones in other collections, both fossil and modern. It is also hoped by Mr. Madsen that new light might be shed on the reasons for members of this group becoming extinct. Two theories that might explain the extinction of some of the group are a change in climate affected the food supply and that Indians might have used the large species for food. Also, such things as the height and weight of the horse are hoped to be determined. The research on these bones will be supervised by Mr. Madsen, who will be aided by some of his students. He feels "This collection of bones has a tremendous research potential which will undoubtedly lead to a significant contribution to our knowledge of Pleistocene Vertebrate Paleontology (study of vertebrate fossils) in this Intermountain Area." J Mr, Jain ",v-,i- - i 'y'studv M.adsn Jr- (left), and his lovely assistant ( "ew Election 8 awbone of a bison. This is a member of a j n now housed in the Museum of Earth Science. |
